Clark University’s Medical Careers

Advising Program

Presented by Dr. David Thurlow, Premedical Advisor and Chair, Premedical and Predental

Advising Committee:

E. Krygier, D. Larochelle, D. Merrill, N. Meyer

Choices of Professions in Medicine:Human medicine:

Allopathy (MD)

Osteopathy (DO)

Dentistry (DDS or DD)

Optometry (OD)

Podiatry (DPM)

Animal medicine: Veterinary (DVM)

Other related professions: Nursing

Chiropractic

Physician Assistant

Nutrition

Sports Medicine

Public HealthGenetic Counseling

Pharmacy

Occupational Therapy

Physical Therapy

Planning for a career in medicine: e.g., allopathic (MD)

What does it take to get into medical school?

Medical schools will ask three questions:

1. Can you do the work in medical school?

Numbers and NCVs

2. Do you know what you are getting in for?

“Clinical” (usually volunteer) experiences

3. Will you make a good doctor?

Letters, applications, interviews, and NCVs

1. Undergraduate GPA (overall and science): ~ 3.5

2. MCAT scores: ~> 70th percentile on each of 4 sections: Biology/Biochem, Chemistry/Physics, Behavioral, and Critical Reasoning

1. Can you do the work in medical school?

Data medical schools will use to try to answer this question:

3. Non-cognitive variables (NCVs) as predictors of success:

Sense of self Realistic self appraisal

Balance in recognizing and dealing with “discrimination”

Setting goals and receiving rewards

Leadership Role models

Ability to identify and thrive in a community

Nontraditional (experience based) learning

2. Do you know what you are getting in for?

1.Experiences in a “clinical” environment - since you cannot treat patients without certification (CNA, LPN, RN, PA, MD, etc .), this is usually obtained as a volunteer in a hospital, nursing home, or health clinic

Have you seen patients in distress?Will you faint at the sight of blood?Did you learn about medicine from watching Grey’s

Anatomy?Have you ever changed a bedpan?Have you witnessed health care providers act professionally?

2. Service on an Emergency Medical Squad (EMS); e.g., CUEMS

3. Training/experience as an EMT

Information medical schools will use to try to answer this question:

1. Positive letter of evaluation from Committee:

Based primarily on letters of reference from Clark faculty

2. AMCAS application: personal essay and list of experiences

3. Will you make a good doctor? i.e., are you the type of person someone on the medical school’s admissions committee would identify as the type of person they would want as their own doctor?

Data medical schools will use to try to answer this question:

3. Answers to questions on secondary applications

4. Interview

5. NCVs in all of the above

GPA

MCAT

Faculty Letters

Research

Academics Humanism

Campus,Community,and ClinicalExtracurricularActivities

Curriculum

AMCAS Application Essay Experience descriptions

Application Process

Medical Schools

Interview

Secondary Applications

Choosing Schools

Committee Letter

Undergraduate required prerequisite courses(Beware: these may change in the near future)

1. Different schools have somewhat different prerequisites (especially regarding Math).

2. Medical, dental and veterinary are generally similar: 1 year of English, Math, General Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physics; plus at least 1 semester of Biochemistry*, Psychology*, and Sociology*. *Recently required by increasing numbers of schools.

3. Allied health fields such as nursing and PA do not generally require Physics. However, they, as well as pharmacy, PT, and others, may have additional requirements such as Microbiology, Statistics, Human Anatomy and Human Physiology.

Please see Clark’s website for more information (http://www.clarku.edu/departments/prehealth/exploring/careers.cfm )

Year 1 Fall SpringIntro Chem I Intro Chem IIIntro Biol I Intro Biol IIxxx xxxxxx Math/Statistics*

Year 2 Fall SpringOrganic I Organic II(Math)* Psychology* *not all schoolsxxx (Cell) XXX (Genetics)

xxx xxxYear 3 Fall Spring

Intro Physics I Intro Physics IIBiochemistry I xxx (Physiology)

English (any) English (any)xxx Sociology*

Medical School Requirements (bold) It is possible to complete them in 3 years

Other desirable courses: Spanish, computer literacy

What we can provide for you:

1. Curriculum

2. MCAT

3. Invited Speakers (First Wednesday Series)

4. Letters of Recommendation and Committee Letter of Evaluation

5. Extracurricular and volunteering activities (ER volunteering program at St. Vincent and UMass Memorial Hospitals)

6. AMCAS Application: Timing, Basic information, List of experiences, and Personal statement

7. Secondary applications

8. Mock Interviews

9. Where to apply: appropriate tier, compatible programs, suitable geography

10. Networking: contacts with Clark alumni, conferences, open houses

Invited Speakers Program

Workshops and lectures by invited speakers: provide insight into how to prepare for the challenges of the medical profession and how to take advantage of the rewards.

Clark now hosts a two-year repeating cycle of workshops and lectures:

Year 1 Year 2

1) September – MCAT 1) September – MCAT

2) October – Ob/Gyn 2) October – Family

3) November – Pediatrics 3) November – End of Life

4) February – Emergency 4) February – Surgery

5) March – Medical School Admissions 5) March – Medical School Admissions

6) April – AMCAS 6) April – AMCAS

Emergency Room Volunteer and Shadowing Program

Clark University and both St. Vincent and UMass Memorial Hospitals are partners in programs that provides the following opportunity for Clark premeds:

Applicants are recommended by Clark's Premedical Advisor, or may apply directly at the Volunteer Office.

Participants make a commitment of at least 50 hours over the year.

At the completion of the program, the volunteer coordinator may be asked for a letter of recommendation to be incorporated into Clark’s committee letter.

In addition, the Dept. of Surgery at UMass Memorial Hospital has a shadowing program to which Clark students may apply. Please see Dr. Thurlow for an application.

What is the best way to approach your college career?

1. ExploreCoursesMajorsCampus activitiesCommunity

2. EnjoyAll of the aboveFind your passionMake time for you

3. FocusGradesMCATServiceApplication process

Final ThoughtsThe health profession is one of the most rewarding careers one can choose.

Medicine may be one of the most demanding professions one can choose.

Start the process of becoming the type of individual to whom you would trust your own health and well being now.

There are many fields. You will have plenty of time to decide which is most attractive to you.

We are here to help. Please come see and talk with us soon and often.

Qualified Clark graduates will be offered assured admission to MCPHS programs leading to the following degrees: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Master of Physician Assistant Studies (PA), and Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD).

New Articulation Agreements with MCPHS: nursing, PA, & PharmD

Eligibility:

Major in Biology or related fieldGPA - Overall & prerequisites: 3.2, BSN; 3.4, PA and PharmDPrerequisite courses (no grades below a C) Notify MCPHS by Feb. 1 of senior yearApplication must be complete and received by

Oct. 1 (BSN and PA - Jan. matriculation) or Feb. 1 (PharmD – Sept. matriculation)

Prerequisite courses for transfer to MCPHS: BSNBSN prerequisite Clark courses:

Chemistry I: CHEM 101Chemistry II: CHEM 102*Human Anatomy: BIOL 111 *Human Physiology: BIOL 240*Microbiology: BIOL 109*Statistics: MATH 217 (ECON 260) or MATH 218 or ECON 160

or BIOL 106 or GEOG 110*Human Development: PSYC 150 and PSYC 151 and PSYC 152

*requires additional Clark prerequisite (e.g., BIOL 101, PSYC 101)

Prerequisite courses for transfer to MCPHS: PAPA prerequisite Clark courses: *Human Anatomy: BIOL 111*Human Physiology: BIOL 240Chemistry I: CHEM 101*Organic Chemistry I: CHEM 131*Biochemistry I: CHEM 271*Microbiology: BIOL 109*Statistics: MATH 217 (ECON 260) or MATH 218 or ECON 160 or BIOL 106 or GEOG 110General Psychology: PSYC 101

*requires additional Clark prerequisite (e.g., BIOL 101)

Prerequisite courses for transfer to MCPHS: PharmD

Pharm D prerequisite Clark courses:

Biology I: BIOL 101 or BIOL 100 Biology II: BIOL 102Microbiology: BIOL 109Chemistry I: CHEM 101 or CHEM 103Chemistry II: CHEM 102Organic Chemistry I: CHEM 131Organic Chemistry II: CHEM 132 or CHEM 134Calculus I: MATH 120 or MATH 124Probability & Statistics: MATH 217 (ECON 260) or MATH 218 or ECON 160or BIOL 106 or GEOG 110Physics: Any PHYS course 110 or higherMathematics or Computer Science Elective: Any MATH course 113 or higher, or any CSCI course 115 or higher (in addition to Calculus requirement and Statistics requirement)